- Any waste perceived to contain materials that may be infectious to humans.
- Human materials such as:
- Blood,
- Body fluids,
- Tissues,
- Organs,
- Body parts.
- Items contaminated with human materials.
- Discarded materials such as cultures, stocks, specimens, or vaccines.
- Discarded infectious agents.
- Sharps (including needles, syringes, etc.)
- Animal materials intentionally infected with pathogens or potentially infectious human materials.
- Carcasses,
- Body parts,
- Bedding,
- Waste contaminated by these materials.
- Any contaminated materials used to clean up RMW, such as a spill.
FAQ Category: Laboratory Safety FAQs
Any waste that has come in contact with potentially-infectious materials should be placed in a red bag with the biohazard symbol.
Regulated medical waste should be autoclaved. If the waste cannot be autoclaved (e.g., mixed with a chemical, is an animal carcass, or is from a clinical space), it should be placed in a burn box for incineration offsite.
- Autoclave
- Use an autoclave meant to treat waste (will have a sticker on it that says “waste autoclave only”)
- Autoclave material for 2 hours at 121oC at 15psi.
- Fill in the logbook with date, time, your name, type of material treated, and approximate weight of treated waste.
- Place autoclaved waste in an orange bag.
- Affix a label indicating the waste has been treated and write the date on it.
- Take the waste to the dumpster.
- Burn box
- Tape bottom and side seams of box.
- Line with 2 red bags with the biohazard symbol.
- When 75% full, seal both bags.
- Do not fill more than 40 pounds.
- Close box and tape shut at seams.
- Contact EHS for pickup.
The Hepatitis B vaccine is offered at no cost to employees determined to be at risk for occupational exposure to human blood, blood products, tissues, cells or other potentially infectious material. The vaccination series must be started within ten working days of initial assignment to a position involving potential exposure.
To obtain the Hepatitis B vaccine, contact EHS. EHS will arrange for eligible employees to receive the vaccination series.
Biological waste that is non-infectious should be autoclaved. If the waste cannot be autoclaved (e.g., mixed with a chemical or is an animal carcass), it should be placed in a burn box for incineration offsite.
- Autoclave
- Place waste in a clear autoclave bag
- Run the autoclave cycle.
- Fill in the logbook with date, time, your name, type of material treated, and approximate weight of treated waste.
- Take the waste to the dumpster.
- Burn box
- Tape bottom and side seams of box.
- Line with 2 black bags.
- When 75% full, seal both bags.
- Do not fill more than 40 pounds.
- Close box and tape shut at seams.
- Contact EHS for pickup.
The transport of biological materials may be regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT). If you would like to transport any biological material, please contact EHS to ensure that your transport complies with DOT regulation.
The IBC:
- Provides oversight of recombinant DNA research.
- Ensures research is in compliance with NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules (NIH Guidelines).
- Reviews and approves all research subject to the NIH Guidelines.
- Also reviews all projects that involve:
- Biological materials
- Infectious materials
- Other potentially infectious materials
- Biologically-derived toxins
In order to conduct work with a biological material, an IBC Registration form must be completed. For more information on recombinant DNA, see the Office of Biotechnology Activities Frequently Asked Questions website.
All chemical fume hoods must be tested annually. At the time of testing, a label is placed on the chemical fume hood indicating the day in which it was last tested as well as the date in which testing is required. Contact EHS if your chemical fume hood is in need of testing.
No, as laboratory personnel who use a chemical fume hood that operates outside the range of 80 to 120 fpm at a sash height of 18 inches (marked by maximum sash height sticker) may be exposed to harmful chemical vapors. Contact EHS and do not use the chemical fume hood until it has been repaired.
EHS tests showers and eyewashes every six months in laboratory areas to certify that water pressure and flow rate are within acceptable parameters.
In addition, departments are required to flush safety showers and eyewashes every two weeks to ensure that there is a flushing fluid supply at the head of the device and to clear the supply line of any sediment build-up that could prevent fluid from being delivered and to minimize microbial contamination due to sitting water. Routine flushing must be recorded on the Inspection Tag attached to the equipment.
All hazardous waste containers must be compatible with the materials they are intended to store, must have a cap or lid that is able to be tightly sealed, and must be labeled with the complete chemical name and the words “Hazardous Waste.” Do not use food containers, pharmaceutical containers, flasks, bins, or other open top containers.
EHS provides 5-gallon polyethylene containers for the disposal of corrosive, organic, inorganic, and flammable wastes. Additional container sizes made of various chemical resistant materials may be available or provided upon request.
EHS recommends using empty chemical containers that are generated in the laboratory to accumulate hazardous waste. If you choose to use an existing chemical container, please remove or completely deface the chemical label and replace it with a label that correctly identifies the waste contents. Please be sure that the chemicals are compatible with the container’s material(s) and that the container has a properly fitted cap or lid that is capable of being tightly sealed. Waste stored in containers that does not meet these requirements will not be removed from your laboratory until you have met these re-use requirements.